Few weeks ago, one would have thought that for the xenophobic attacks, which stemmed from Durban, South Africa, foreign participation at the 36-year-old Durban International Film Festival will experience a lull.
Incidentally, Nigeria’s presence this year appears huge, going by some factors, including a new vista made possible by Pedro Pimanta, the new Director of DIFF.
For the first time, a total of four Nigerian short films were screened in one edition of the film event.
The films, which include Timothy by Ejiro Onobrakpor, Henna by Ishaya Bako, Once by Jay-Franklyn Jituboh and The Dutiful Wife by Soji Ogunaike, are courtesy of Afrinolly’s Cinema4Change project in partnership with Ford Foundation.
The four short films, which were part of the seven proposed for the DIFF, is among a total of 71 officially selected by the festival organisers.
Not less than seven Nigerians are among the 40 participants at the Durban Talents this year.
The 40 represent film enthusiasts from 10 countries across the continent, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Zambia and Cameroon.
The Talent Press, which is presented in cooperation with the Federation of International Film Critics, an association of national organisations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world, has Nigeria’s Oluwale Oluwadahunsi and Isabella Akinseye among the four participants, while Nigeria’s Oris Aigbokhaevbolo and Shaibu Husseini are among the four mentors in this segment of Talent Durban.
In the same vein, popular Nigerian script writer, Kemi Adesoye, filmmaker Tope Ogun and Daniella Esua are among the Nigerian delegation at the Talent Durban.
In its eigtht year, the Talents Durban, presented in cooperation with the Berlinale Talents, is an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival.
It is a five-day development programme made up of workshops and seminars for African filmmakers delivered by film professionals, academics and intellectuals.
The Talents, who are selected through a rigorous application process, also had the opportunity to attend screenings and events at the Festival.
Talents Durban is one of the six Talents International programmes formed by Berlinale Talents in Africa and around the world, including Talents Beirut in Lebanon, Talents Buenos Aires in Argentina, Talents Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Talents Tokyo in Japan and Talents Guadalajara in Mexico.
Nigeria’s Aissa’s Story by Iquo Essien and notable Romcom, Flower Girl, by Michelle Bello also show at the festival.
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